Sigefrith tells Theobald his plans

Theobald clenched his fists and swallowed. Githa was murmuring something happy about this unexpected visit, but Theobald could only hear the blood pounding in his ears. He had intended to ride down into Lothere for Holyrood Day, so if Sigefrith had something so important to tell him that it merited riding up into the hills only a few days before, then that something could only be very, very bad.

And there was a stranger with Sigefrith: an older man who had seen a lot of sun and, from the keen-​eyed, strong-​armed warrior look of him, many battles. What could this mean?

But Sigefrith only laughed and cried “Theobald!” and embraced him.

Theobald was too stunned to be relieved—or so relieved he was stunned.

“Theobald, I want you to meet my friend, Leofric! I told you about him, remember?”

“This is the son of the serpent?” Theobald asked, remembering.

“Sigefrith! What are you telling your friends?” Leofric laughed. “I am not the son of a serpent. I merely say that everything and everyone else is.”

“I beg your pardon, but I thought you were dead, sir?”

“The finest joke I ever played on Sigefrith here! I’ve been six years in bondage, and in the seventh year I was set free as the Lord commanded—though without the help of my master, who was an unbeliever indeed!”

“And is this the son of Theobald I see before me?” Sigefrith asked, turning to Githa and her baby.

“This is Ethelmer,” Githa said proudly. “He’s two weeks old today.”

“Well, hallo, little man! And happy birthday! He has your wee nose, Githa dear. Lucky little man! Won’t he be tall though? Look at those long legs! Another hulking barbarian like his father, eh, Theobald?”

Theobald smiled. There was no doubt he had a fine son.

“Now, Githa dear, I hope that we shall not trouble you if we say that we shall see you again at dinner?”

“Oh, not at all! I’m so happy to see you again, Sigefrith. And to meet your friend.”

“Then you won’t mind letting us borrow your husband for an hour or two?”

“Of course not. I was about to lay Ethelmer down for his nap. Come along girls, I believe we have some sewing to do upstairs.”

After Githa had taken her children and her two nieces from the great hall, Sigefrith said, “Theobald, your castle is looking to be in good shape.”

“I suppose we have nearly finished the work.”

“Excellent! If your masons and carpenters are free, then I have some plans for the eastern fort that I should like to show you,” Sigefrith said eagerly, patting a leather roll he wore on his belt.

“I have been looking forward to that.”

“But before you get us some wine and we sit down to have a proper talk, I have some other plans for the eastern fort that I would like to talk to you about.”

“Certainly.”

“It’s this, Theobald: you will require a castellan at your castle—not to say a lord.”

“That’s true. I’m afraid Godwulf is getting too old for that sort of work.”

“I have your man, Theobald: Sir Leofric Hingwar, although I suppose we could call him Lord Hingwar without offending any former residents of the old fort, couldn’t we?”

Theobald looked over the knight standing before him. “Have you come to stay, sir?”

“For as long as my lord can stand me.”

“You can trust him, Theobald,” Sigefrith said. “He loved my father well.”

“And your puny self, runt.”

“I trust Your Majesty’s judgement in all things,” Theobald said.

“Excellent, Theobald! Excellent! Now that we have that decided, we may more easily plan the rest. And, oh, the plans I have!”

Theobald smiled despite his own overhanging gloom. He hadn’t seen the King so eager and full of plans in a very long time. If the King was optimistic, perhaps the future was not as dark as he had feared.